Moteo Marae

Hikateko and his wife Huakirangi produced eight children: Ruruarau, Manuatea (F), Manawa, Toheriri, Taotahi (F), Iwikohurehure (F), Hikawera and Paka.

Only the first born Ruruarau married twice. His first wife was Hinekino of Ngati Mahu. By her he had one son, Taui. His second marriage to Whakapakaru was the result of a saga involving both fathers. Whakapakaru fell in love with Ruruarau, but his father Hikateko disapproved of the union because she was the daughter of Hikawera II and he feared Hikawera was trying to get a foothold on Ngati Hinepare lands. Hikawera II returned to Heretaunga to take up the legacy of his mother Te Huhuti. On the death of his grandfather Rangitaumaha, he occupied Oueroa pa where he lived with his wife Te Uiraiwaho, a famed beauty and the mother of Whakapakaru. Hikawera was gifted another wife while living at Oueroa by the people of Wairoa.

He looked out from Oueroa one day and saw a starving party of people straggling across the Otupaopao flats. They were climbing cabbage trees to try and reach the shoots. He instructed his men to kill dogs from the pa and collect eels and kakahi from the neighbouring swamps. He prepared a hangi at Te Umukuri and fed the starving people. The remains of the dogs were thrown into the river which took the name Tutaekuri from this event.

Paora Kaiwhata, the youngest son of Rawiri Tareahi of Ngati Hinepare and Ngai Takaha, hapu of Ngati Kahungunu, was born at Rakato pa on the shores of Lake Ōingo. His mother Whareunga of Ngati Mahu named him Kahukuranui.

When Waikato tribes attacked Te Pakake pa at Ahuriri about 1824, Kaiwhata as a child, along with his father were captured and spent 18 months in Waikato before being released. They returned to their ancestral lands surrounding Lake Ōingo and kept the fires of occupation alight on the land. Here, young Kaiwhata learned the history and customs of his people from his father while making occasional visits to Mahia. By this time Paora had established himself at Omarunui on the Tutaekuri River and assumed leadership of Ngati Mahu and a section of Ngati Hinepare. In 1868 through inheritance, Paora Kaiwhata relocated his people permanently to Moteo, where he built Tuhirangi meeting house, a church and a residence.

Moteo is the principal marae of Ngati Hinepare and Ngati Mahu today. Paora died in May 1892 and is buried at Moteo urupa. After he died, the Pirau land was sold off to Fenton Kelly and Lawrence Higgins.

Moteo Hapua Pirau, where Moteo B2G2 Reserve is today, was divided up and members of our whanau continue to live on the land.